Members of Commonwealth Observer Group are spread across Sierra Leone to observe its elections as stations open across the country.
The Chair of the group, Nigeria’s former vice president, Professor Yemi Osinbajo is in the capital, Freetown, to witness the first voters cast their ballots.
Professor Osinbajo said “It is election day in Sierra Leone. At the crack of dawn, I visited multiple polling stations and I am now currently situated at the epicentre in Freetown, keenly watching voters exercise their rights.
Other members of my team are spread across the country to witness and oversee the conduct of this democratic process.”
He had led the Commonwealth Observer Group on Friday to the Bintumani Conference Centre where they met Commissioners of the Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion and the Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone.
They also visited their situation rooms and discussed their observations about the pre-electoral environment, concerns and preparations.
Also in attendance of the Commonwealth Observer Group is the former president of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan.
Sierra Leoneans are voting in a general election following a tense campaign marred by violence.
Stations opened late in most polling centres but voting, due to end at 5.00 pm GMT, got off to a late start at Wilberforce Barracks, a voting centre in the capital Freetown.
About 3.4 million people are expected to choose between 13 candidates vying for the presidency, including incumbent Julius Maada Bio.
The voters are choosing a president, MPs and councillors in the West African country’s fifth election since the civil war ended in 2002.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
